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I started crying, sobbing so hard I couldn’t catchI didn’t need to Charley wrapped her arme like a salve of illumination I lost track of time as nancy, the hope, the decision I’d ht not survive

When I next looked up, Charley had led me so to a tiny bundle in her arms

"What’s her na --handed her a baby girl "Her na with pride

"Wait," I said to Charley, "we’d decided on Melody Ruth, after her"

Charley tore her gaze away froht Jo decided on Melody Ruth"

Myin her eyes "We did, but I thought itthat this child be naive her one"

"May I ask what happened?" Charley said

With heartbroken eyes, my mother explained "I’m not sure hoell you knew Jo, but she had type one diabetes"

"I didn’t know that," Charley replied, offeringwith the baby

"We figured it out when she was seven It ale it did to her kidneys was irreparable We’d struggled her whole life just to keep her alive So many hospitals So many close calls" She touched a tiny hand that had escaped the tight folds of the blanket My baby’s hand It was terrifying

"Just like her lanced up astwo cups of coffee

"Always escaping," he added, gesturing toward the hand of the infant, "always defiant"

"To the end," oonant one day," Mom said Dad handed her a coffee and squeezed her shoulder for support "The doctor told her if she went through with it she would be risking her life, but it was all she’d ever wanted The one thing that would kill her"

My ht I reht my boyfriend and I weren’t careful That saback home with my parents when I’d fallen too ill to care forI’d done was just to keep Melody alive

I finally worked up the courage tothat had taken up residence inside led the baby so I could see her face, and both my hands flew up to coverI’d ever seen Absolutely perfect

"Look at her eyes," I said

Charley nodded "And her long fingers"

"Babies are cool"